Sega Game Gear Games Now Playable on Steam Deck

This guide details how to install and use EmuDeck to play Sega Game Gear games on your Steam Deck, maximizing performance with Decky Loader and Power Tools.

Before You Begin: Essential Preparations

Before installing EmuDeck, ensure you've completed these steps:

• Enable Developer Mode: Navigate to Steam > System > System Settings > Enable Developer Mode. Then, in the Developer menu, enable CEF Remote Debugging. Restart your Steam Deck.

• Gather Necessary Tools: An A2 microSD card (or external HDD connected via dock) for storage is highly recommended. A keyboard and mouse simplify ROM transfer and artwork management. Remember to legally obtain your Game Gear ROMs.

Installing EmuDeck

Follow these steps to install EmuDeck:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Download EmuDeck from their website.
3. Choose the SteamOS version and select "Custom Install."
4. Select your microSD card (Primary) as the installation location.
5. Choose your desired emulators (RetroArch, Emulation Station, Steam ROM Manager are recommended).
6. Enable "Auto Save."
7. Complete the installation.

Quick EmuDeck Settings

Open EmuDeck and adjust the following in Quick Settings:

• Ensure AutoSave is enabled.
• Enable Controller Layout Match.
• Set Sega Classic AR to 4:3.
• Turn on LCD Handhelds.

Transferring ROMs and Using Steam ROM Manager

Add your Game Gear ROMs:

1. In Desktop Mode, locate the gamegear folder within the ROMS directory on your microSD card (under Emulation).
2. Transfer your ROMs to this folder.
3. Open EmuDeck, then Steam ROM Manager.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts, selecting the Game Gear parser and adding your games.
5. Verify artwork is correct; use the "Fix" function if needed. Remove any numbers preceding game titles in ROM filenames to improve artwork detection.

Fixing Missing Artwork

If artwork is missing:

1. Search online for the missing cover art.
2. Save the image to your Steam Deck's Pictures folder.
3. In Steam ROM Manager, use the "Upload" function to add the artwork.

Playing Your Games

1. Switch to Gaming Mode.
2. Access your Game Gear collection in the Steam Library (use R1 for Collections).
3. Select a game and play. Adjust the in-game settings to 60 FPS to improve performance (QAS button > Performance).

Enhancing Performance with Decky Loader and Power Tools

For optimal performance:

1. Install Decky Loader: Download from GitHub, choose "Recommended Install," and restart.
2. Install Power Tools: In Gaming Mode, access Decky Loader, open the store, and install the Power Tools plugin.
3. Configure Power Tools: Disable SMTs, set Threads to 4, enable Manual GPU Clock Control (1200 MHz), and enable Per-Game Profile in the Performance menu.

Recovering Decky Loader After a Steam Deck Update

If a Steam Deck update removes Decky Loader:

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Re-download Decky Loader from GitHub.
3. Run the downloaded file (choose "Execute," not "Open").
4. Enter your sudo password (create one if needed).
5. Restart your Steam Deck.

Enjoy your Game Gear games on your Steam Deck!